Weekly Zag Briefing

We have to wait a few more days until the Zags are back in action, luckily the Internet content machine never stops churning.

• The Lady Zags received All-WCC love as senior Kiara Kudron and sophomore Jill Barta were named to the first team, while senior Elle Tinkle and sophomore Laura Stockton made the second team.
• John Blanchette wrote that Mark Few should be the favorite for the National Coach of the Year award. Where do I co-sign? Mark Few also made Dick Vitale’s final list of Coach of the Year candidates.
• The Spokesman-Review profiled each of Gonzaga’s 3 seniors in light of their final appearance at The Kennel. Rem plans on chopping off the hair at the end of the season, proper adulation is bestowed upon Przemek’s beard, and Jordan Mathews is happy he became a Zag.
• The writers over at Yahoo Sports discussed who they would pick for the National Player of the Year Award, and Nigel Williams-Goss made Pat Forde’s Final Five.
• Despite the loss on Saturday night, Gonzaga’s postseason expectations shouldn’t change.
• Even with the loss of the perfect season, the Zags have remained on the 1-line in bracketology updates by our friends at SB Nation, CBS Sports, and Lunardi. However, USA Today dropped the Zags all the way down to the 3-line in the Midwest region. I don’t see that one happening.
• Myron Medcalf takes a look at why each of the teams currently ranked in the Top 25 will not make the Final Four. His concern with Gonzaga is that the lack of competition in conference play has prevented the team from getting practice in tight games. For Saint Mary’s, Medcalf points to the Gaels lack of athleticism.
• AUDIO: Seth Greenberg and Andy Katz discuss Gonzaga’s surprising loss.
• There has been several moronic hit-jobs written about the Zags this week following Saturday night’s disappointment. This brilliantly garbage piece at The Big Lead takes the cake with its contention that the current Zags are a paper tiger and an inferior squad to last year’s team. I’m torn about sharing it because this piece certainly doesn’t deserve the clicks, but I’ll leave the final decision up to you.
• In case you missed it, our fearless leader got quoted in the Wall Street Journal in a discussion about Gonzaga’s rise and its burden to break into the Final Four.
• The Zags are still the overwhelming favorite to win the WCC Tournament.
• Mike Rutherford put together an excellent preview of all the various conference tournaments taking place this week, and you should definitely check it out. In case you need any more incentive, he called Gonzaga the “Meryl Streep of this group.”